"A book signing?"
Celadon City, the Shonen Adventure magazine editorial office.
Shiraishi Ritsu stared at the proposal Kikkawa Maho handed him, his expression gradually turning strange.
"Miss Maho, are you sure you want me to attend in person?"
"Of course."
Kikkawa Maho nodded with a smile.
"Were you hoping to have Smeargle sign in your place?"
Shiraishi Ritsu glanced down at Smeargle beside him.
Smeargle was busy eating the Berry cookies provided by the publisher. Hearing his name, he immediately looked up.
"Smear?"
"Having him go might not be a bad idea."
Shiraishi Ritsu rubbed his chin, seriously considering it.
"He does all the artwork for Pokémon Adventures, after all, and he's pretty popular himself. Maybe the readers would rather meet him."
"Mr. Masuda!"
Kikkawa Maho tapped the desk in exasperation.
"You're the manga's original author!"
"I know, I know."
Shiraishi Ritsu sighed.
"But I've never attended a book signing before."
As a transmigrator, he of course knew how manga book signings worked.
The author sat behind a table while readers lined up with their collected volumes, exchanged a few words with them, and received a signature.
It sounded fairly easy.
But now that it was his turn, he still felt somewhat unsure.
Especially after the recent string of events, which had forced Shiraishi Ritsu to be even more cautious.
Sabrina had come straight to his studio, and Lt. Surge had quite a few complaints about his portrayal in the manga.
Not to mention the strange collector who had visited the publisher a while ago specifically to inquire about his personal information.
And that unsigned letter was still locked in his studio drawer.
At that thought, Shiraishi Ritsu could not help asking, "Miss Maho, does holding a book signing mean I'll have to reveal my real identity?"
Kikkawa Maho shook her head.
"No, you won't have to."
"Really?"
"Of course. You can keep using the pen name Masuda Senbei."
She opened the proposal and pointed to a page.
"The publisher will only announce your pen name, the title of your work, and the event schedule. We won't disclose your real name, home address, or studio location."
"I see..."
Shiraishi Ritsu relaxed a little.
But the problem clearly had not been fully resolved.
"But once readers have seen me, won't they be able to recognize me afterward?"
"That is possible."
Kikkawa Maho did not deny it.
"So whether you appear in public is ultimately your decision. We can arrange on-site management, and we'll remind the staff to protect your personal information."
She paused briefly.
"But Mr. Masuda, you're a professional manga artist now."
"Your manga is getting more and more popular, and the collected volume has officially gone on sale. If you hold more events in the future, there will inevitably be times when you need to meet your readers."
Shiraishi Ritsu did not answer immediately.
He looked down at the proposal on the desk.
In truth, he was looking forward to the signing a little, too.
After all, he had received plenty of reader letters since Pokémon Adventures began serialization, but he had never actually met the people who liked his work.
Some liked Red, some liked Green, and some had a particular fondness for the villainous executives in the manga.
There were even quite a few young Trainers who seriously analyzed the Pokémon tactics in the manga.
Hearing what these readers thought in person did seem rather interesting.
"Miss Maho, where are you planning to hold the signing?"
"At a large bookstore in central Celadon City."
Kikkawa Maho answered at once.
"We've worked with them several times before. They have a well-equipped venue and plenty of staff, and they're easy to get to."
"How many attendees?"
"For the first event, we're tentatively setting it at eighty, with advance reservations."
"Eighty?"
Shiraishi Ritsu froze for a moment.
"Isn't that too many?"
"Just how little confidence do you have in your own manga?"
Kikkawa Maho could not help laughing.
"The first collected volume is selling very well, and we're getting more and more reader letters. I'm worried eighty reservation slots won't be enough."
Shiraishi Ritsu rubbed his nose.
He kept feeling that lately, this editor had even more confidence in Pokémon Adventures than he did as its author.
"All right."
After a moment's thought, he finally nodded.
"Since it's my first public event, let's give it a try."
Kikkawa Maho's eyes lit up.
"You agree?"
"Yes, but I have a few conditions."
"Go ahead."
"My real name must not be made public, and my personal contact details can't be given to anyone. Any event photos and promotional material have to be cleared with me beforehand."
"No problem."
"Also, if anyone asks where my studio is, the staff must step in."
"We've already arranged for that."
Kikkawa Maho took notes as she said, "There will be dedicated staff to maintain order, and readers won't be allowed backstage without permission."
Shiraishi Ritsu nodded in satisfaction.
"One last condition."
"What is it?"
"Whatever you do, don't invite those three Gym Leaders!"
"..."
Kikkawa Maho froze for a moment, then could not help laughing.
"Mr. Masuda, just how scared of them are you?"
"That's called learning my lesson!"
Shiraishi Ritsu answered with complete conviction.
"I don't want my very first signing to turn into a joint interrogation of a manga artist by Gym Leaders!"
Smeargle was thoroughly enjoying the conversation beside them.
He had already picked up a pencil and was secretly drawing Shiraishi Ritsu surrounded by the three Gym Leaders.
Shiraishi Ritsu glanced at it and immediately reached out to pin the paper down.
"Enough out of you, too!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle reluctantly put away his pencil.
What a shame.
He thought it was such an interesting subject.
Once his participation in the signing was confirmed, the next step was to work out the event details.
Kikkawa Maho took out another document.
"In addition to regular autographs, we're planning to produce a batch of limited commemorative illustrations."
"Limited illustrations?"
Shiraishi Ritsu immediately perked up.
"Yes. Each reader attending the event will receive one. You and Smeargle will handle the design."
"No problem!"
Compared with signing books in front of a crowd of strangers, designing an illustration was clearly more in line with Shiraishi Ritsu's interests.
He immediately picked up a pen and paper and began thinking.
"Since this is the first signing, the commemorative illustration should tie in with the first collected volume."
Kikkawa Maho nodded.
"That's what I was thinking, too."
"Then let's draw Red!"
Shiraishi Ritsu soon had an idea.
"The protagonist has to be in the most prominent spot. As for the Pokémon, let's use his first partners."
"Smear!"
Smeargle immediately leaned closer.
His eyes had already begun to shine upon hearing that they would be designing a new illustration.
Shiraishi Ritsu took out a blank sheet of drawing paper and sketched out a simple composition.
"I want to capture the feeling of Red just setting off on his journey."
"We'll use the road outside Pallet Town as the background, with trees and sky visible in the distance."
"As for Red, have him stand in the center, reaching forward."
Smeargle listened attentively, nodding now and then.
"Put Poliwhirl beside him."
Shiraishi Ritsu pointed at the sketch.
"This Pokémon has been with him since childhood, so it has to have an important place."
"And Bulbasaur, too."
"We can have him stand on Red's other side, looking up and ahead."
Watching beside them, Kikkawa Maho could not resist offering a suggestion.
"If it's a commemorative illustration, should we add a special line of text?"
"Good point."
Shiraishi Ritsu rubbed his chin.
Then he wrote a line beneath the sketch.
[The adventure has only just begun!]
"What do you think?"
Kikkawa Maho took a look and nodded with a smile.
"Nice. It really suits the first volume."
Smeargle also thought the theme was excellent.
But looking at Shiraishi Ritsu's crooked sketch, he still could not help giving it a disdainful look.
"Smear..."
"Hey!"
Shiraishi Ritsu noticed at once.
"What's with that look?"
Smeargle picked up his pencil and simply drew a new version beside it.
In just a few minutes, a beautiful first draft gradually took shape.
In the center, Red wore a red cap and a confident smile.
Poliwhirl stood beside him, while Bulbasaur held his head slightly high, as though he could hardly wait to set off.
In the distance, sunlight spilled across the road, and a few leaves drifted down on the breeze.
The whole picture brimmed with the vitality unique to Shonen Adventure stories.
Kikkawa Maho's eyes shone as she looked at it.
"It's gorgeous!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle proudly puffed out his chest.
Shiraishi Ritsu was quite satisfied, too.
"Nice, nice! Let's use this one!"
As he spoke, he added another comment.
"But when you color it properly, you could make the sky a little brighter."
"Smear!"
Smeargle nodded.
"And move Red's hat back a little."
"Smear."
"Bulbasaur's expression could be livelier, too."
"Smear..."
Smeargle slowly put down his pencil.
Then he turned his head and stared expressionlessly at Shiraishi Ritsu.
Shiraishi Ritsu promptly coughed.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop!"
Kikkawa Maho watched from the side, thoroughly amused.
Now she understood.
Masuda Senbei and Smeargle really did have the skills to create such a wonderful manga.
It was just that these two seemed to argue a little every day during the creative process.
Over the next few days, Shiraishi Ritsu and Smeargle continued racing to finish their manuscript while also completing the exclusive illustration for the signing.
Meanwhile, the publisher began contacting the bookstore to confirm the venue, event time, and reservation process.
Kikkawa Maho even brought over a list of things to keep in mind.
Shiraishi Ritsu opened it and couldn't help laughing.
"Don't make your signature too sloppy?"
"That's a reminder to practice in advance."
"Be polite when interacting with readers?"
"Of course."
"Don't reveal any unreleased plot developments without permission?"
"That one is especially important!"
Kikkawa Maho said earnestly, "If you tell a reader the plot of the next ten chapters while signing your name, how am I supposed to do my job as your editor?"
Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly nodded.
"Don't worry, don't worry. My lips are sealed!"
Sitting beside them and listening to their discussion, Smeargle suddenly raised his tail.
"Smear!"
Kikkawa Maho glanced at him.
"What is it?"
Smeargle pointed at the signing guidelines, then at himself.
Shiraishi Ritsu paused, then understood.
"You want to sign things for readers too?"
"Smear!"
Smeargle nodded vigorously.
He was the chief artist of Pokémon Adventures, after all!
How could an event this important leave him out?
Kikkawa Maho thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Of course you can."
"We can include an exclusive signed Smeargle sketch for any readers who want one."
"Smear!"
Smeargle was so excited that he nearly jumped out of his chair.
But Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly realized there was a problem.
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"If I sign my name and Smeargle has to draw a little portrait too, how long will it take us to get through eighty people?"
Kikkawa Maho blinked.
"That's why I suggested you two practice in advance."
"..."
Shiraishi Ritsu slowly lowered his head.
Smeargle looked at him too.
The man and Pokémon stared at each other for a moment.
Then Shiraishi Ritsu silently picked up his pen.
"Oh well. Let's practice."
Smeargle resigned himself to his fate and picked up his drawing paper too.
And so, a rather peculiar scene unfolded in the studio that afternoon.
Shiraishi Ritsu sat at the desk, practicing his pen-name signature over and over.
Beside him, Smeargle repeatedly drew the little portrait he was already quite practiced at.
After writing for so long, Shiraishi Ritsu even began to wonder whether he was practicing his signature or copying lines as punishment.
Still, seeing Smeargle practicing diligently beside him, he stuck with it in the end.
After all, this would be their first time truly meeting their readers face-to-face.
They had to show some sincerity.
Three days later.
The publisher of Shonen Adventure magazine officially released an announcement.
[The first signing event for volume one of Pokémon Adventures has been confirmed!]
[Author Masuda Senbei and special artist Smeargle will appear in person at the central bookstore in Celadon City!]
[An exclusive commemorative illustration will also be given away at the event!]
[Only eighty reservation spots available! Space is limited!]
After the announcement went out, the publisher's reservation line quickly grew busy.
The staff handling registration barely had a chance to stop.
"Hello. Yes, you need a reservation to attend the signing."
"Sorry, each person can only reserve one spot."
"Smeargle will also be attending. That's been confirmed in the announcement."
"The exclusive illustration is only available to readers with reservations who attend the event."
In less than half an hour, all eighty reservation spots had been filled.
When Kikkawa Maho received the figures, even she was a little surprised.
She had initially worried that their first event wouldn't attract enough attention.
Now it seemed she had clearly worried for nothing.
So she immediately told Shiraishi Ritsu the news.
The manga studio.
"What?!"
Holding his communicator, Shiraishi Ritsu abruptly sat up on the sofa.
"All eighty spots are gone?"
"Yes!"
Kikkawa Maho sounded quite happy.
"And quite a few readers have called to ask whether we can increase the number of reservations."
Shiraishi Ritsu lowered his head and glanced at the figures the publisher had sent.
Eighty people.
All successfully registered.
There was also a long list of inquiries from readers who hadn't managed to reserve a spot.
He had originally assumed that not many people would be willing to make a special trip to a bookstore to meet a manga creator.
But now...
"Miss Maho."
"Yes?"
"I'm suddenly a little nervous."
"Didn't you say earlier that the signing would be no problem?"
"That was before!"
Staring at the reservation list, Shiraishi Ritsu couldn't help swallowing.
Normally, he could finish a day's work by lying on the sofa and casually discussing the plot with Smeargle.
But on the day of the signing, he would have to sit in front of dozens of readers he didn't know and sign for them one after another.
What if someone asked about Team Rocket in the manga?
What if someone demanded spoilers on the spot?
What if someone suddenly asked why he had portrayed Sabrina and Lt. Surge as villains...
The more Shiraishi Ritsu thought about it, the more of a headache it became.
Beside him, however, Smeargle was incredibly excited.
He had already picked up his brush and drawn a scene of himself at the signing, surrounded by a crowd of readers praising him.
Shiraishi Ritsu took a look and couldn't help sighing.
"Partner, you're certainly having fun."
"Smear!"
Smeargle nodded proudly.
Shiraishi Ritsu looked back at the reservation figures.
Their first public event hadn't even officially begun, yet every spot had already been snapped up!
He suddenly realized that he seemed to have underestimated how popular Pokémon Adventures had become.
And he had underestimated what becoming a well-known manga artist truly meant.